Priests in the independent sacramental movement all too often have to rely on ministerial resources from other traditions. In Living Mysteries, John Plummer provides guidance arising directly from long experience in the independent movement. He offers clear instructions for the celebration of the sacraments, as well as advice and meditations for cultivating an ever-deepening spiritual life.

The Catholic Church is much more than the Roman Catholics. The Orthodox Church is more than the sects from Greece, Russia, Africa, and Syria. What are these independent churches? Explore the independent denominations and their adherents, who long for the sacraments but have been alienated by intransigent dogma and cookie-cutter churches. In this book, Dr. John Plummer explores the sacramental churches that are beyond and above and below the mainstream. Some are arch-conservative, while others are completely New Age. In this rich tapestry of churches you will find mystical schools, esoteric, and occult teachings. You will meet gay priests and bishops, and female priests and bishops. These paths less walked include liturgies reminiscent of simpler times, and a few that blow right past any limit or tradition. Each offers hope and worship, not for a "melting pot" of mass-market religion, but for those who hold fast to their individuality.

Independent Catholics are the fastest-growing variety of Catholic in the West. They are found in every city of every state in the U.S. and Mexico, every Province of Canada, and throughout Australia, Europe, and South America. This book arises out of a need in the Independent Catholic community for a compact and concise introduction to the movement. This is intended to be a book that can introduce interested people to the movement in a friendly, easy-to-read style that will not tax their patience or their wallets. The Independent Catholic movement is wonderfully diverse, and it is not possible to adequately cover the full spectrum within an introductory volume of this size. Rather, this book focuses on the most common varieties of Independent Catholicism in hopes of providing a short, useful orientation to the newcomer.